Smiles In Training

Excuse me while I fall in love with Victor Valdes all over again as a result of this picture. Fabulous shot of a fabulous guy - it'd be perfection if he'd only grow his hair back.

The team was all smiles during training yesterday, looking nothing at all like a team that had just fallen at the hands - well, technically feet - of what was considered an inferior side. Only person wearing a contemplative frown was, predictably, Pep Guardiola - and that is never a good sign.

Mascherano's First Training

New signing Javier Mascherano took part in his first training session with Barcelona yesterday morning, albiet one that lacked most of the players from the senior squad seeing as they're away on international duty.

Mascherano, who arrived a half hour early to the Ciutat Esportiva, sat down to the team breakfast with Maxwell, Adriano, Keita, Abidal, Alves, Pinto and twenty-five B-teamers, before being ushered out to the training pitch by Adriano and Alves to work with his new coach for the first time.

The same afternoon Mascherano left Barcelona to catch up with the Argentine squad as they prepare for their upcoming friendly against Spain.

Training & Transfer Tales

So what do you think was going on during Friday morning training? Ibrahimovic trying to talk to Pep, while the manager walked right past without even glancing at him? Probably, if you ask Ibra's agent Raiola, who has been mouthing off left and right all through this incredibly messy transfer saga, leading the club to take legal action against him.

Meanwhile, it seems that Ibra's transfer to AC Milan is about to be finalized. After the two sides have been haggling over price for a while, a meeting has been set for 4:30 PM on Saturday to close the deal. Rosell is flying in from Ibiza - having just escaped to the island in the midst of all the transfer chaos - for the occasion. Let's hope the madness ends after this.

Group Photo Flows Into Training

The Barca boys took their official team photo today, with everyone present bar Eric Abidal because he had to respond to disciplinary summons from the French football federation, which sucks; and Alex Hleb because of his contract issues. Apart from that, eight of the B-teamers were included: Oier Olazábal, Rubén Miño, Sergio Gómez, Jonathan dos Santos, Thiago Alcántara, Oriol Romeu, Víctor Vázquez, Andreu Fontàs. Pictures from the event at the official site.

The man-of-the-moment David Villa appeared to be working hard as the players continued their training session in the home match kits instead of switching to training tops, and since I generally judge training sessions by Pep's expression, it seems this one went pretty well.

Preseason Training Observations

Preseason training has kicked off, and judging by Pep's expression we're in for a long season. Hey coach, at least you've got a decent training kit. The boys may be a little rusty coming in from their breaks, but remember they're being made to train while dressed in fuschia. That's going to take some getting used to.

And Ibrahomivic clearly agrees. It seems that his exceptional abs have a phobia for pink cotton, as he spent most of the training session pulling the shirt away from his chest, or else drenching himself with water in hopes that the fabric would dissolve away. I'm not complaining.

In other observations, the new kid on the block, Adriano, seems happy enough training with his new team, fuschia tops and all. It looks like he's getting along well with Gaby and Max. And check out the welcome Hleb got from his teammates!